ALLIANCE Hockey is proud to recognize
Jake Gansevles as the 2025 recipient of the
ALLIANCE Hockey Referee of the Year Award.
The ALLIANCE Hockey Referee of the Year Award recognizes outstanding contributions, involvement and service to ALLIANCE Hockey in the area of officiating.
Jake Gansevles is an outstanding official and an exceptional mentor with an ever-expanding resume.
On the ice, he is a calm, consistent, and trusted presence. Off the ice, he serves as President of the Stratford Referees Association, a role he fulfills on a volunteer basis and provides mentorship to numerous officials.
As an on-ice official, Jake's abilities and professionalism have earned him top recognition and granted him with some special assignments.
Jake has officiated playoff finals across all divisions of AAA, including U16 and U18, and is frequently called upon for the highest-pressure assignments. He has represented ALLIANCE Hockey at OHF Championships, most recently in Sault Ste. Marie where he was chosen to officiate the Bronze medal game.
Jake was also selected as one of only six non-GTHL officials to officiate in the OHL Cup, which featured the top U16 AAA players in the province.
Jake’s leadership extends far beyond the rink as he dedicates countless hours to organizing, advocating and supporting local officials. He is a tireless promoter of officiating and has made a significant impact in reversing declining registration numbers in his local community. This past season alone, Jake was instrumental in recruiting 35 new officials—an impressive 40% increase from the previous year’s total membership of 80.
A cornerstone of Jake’s efforts is the SRA's mentorship program which ensures that every new official’s first game is supported. He personally schedules each new referee’s debut alongside an experienced official, providing hands-on guidance and confidence-building.
"Jake Gansevles is a remarkable official, a dedicated leader, and a role model to younger referees. His passion for the game, his integrity, and his countless hours of behind-the-scenes work have made a lasting difference in Stratford and beyond," noted fellow official Ian Waugh.
Congratulations Jake - your dedication, leadership, and passion for officiating truly make a difference!
